News

1 Program Background

Startups have become crucial entities in driving economic growth and addressing societal challenges through innovative business approaches. They play a significant role not only in the global market but also in promoting innovation within local communities.

In Hyogo and Kobe, we have been actively working on creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to gather, providing funding support, business growth support, and personnel development. Especially since being selected as J-Global Startup Cities in Kansai along with Osaka and Kyoto in July 2020 by the Japanese government, Hyogo and Kobe have been making continuous efforts to foster a diverse startup ecosystem capable of global competition and to promote the development and support of startups.

In addition, the urgent response to the escalating severity of climate change has become a global imperative. Recognizing this, Hyogo, in its revised “Hyogo Prefecture Climate Change Mitigation Plan”* issued in March 2022, emphasizes the crucial need to foster innovation for the implementation of technologies that enable sustainable growth, while also striving to generate cutting-edge innovations that contribute to achieving a decarbonized society.

Based on the aforementioned context, this program organized by Hyogo and Kobe　aims to strengthen the startup ecosystem by supporting startups and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are dedicated to pursuing the globally shared Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program further focuses on facilitating the development, growth, and international expansion of system and product solutions that foster global social transformation.

Its primary objective is to foster innovation and promote the creation of startups that contribute to the advancement of cutting-edge products and solutions while strengthening the overall startup ecosystem.

* https://www.kankyo.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/jp/warming/leg_255/leg_394

2 Targeted Startups

We are looking for startups that are developing and commercializing products or services related to the following themes.

• Themes
  Products or services that contribute to the SDGs**
  ** We plan to prioritize the selection of startups that are actively working on developing products or services in Climate tech, such as decarbonization and carbon neutrality.
• Criteria
  • Startups that are developing and commercializing products or services related to the aforementioned themes. (Having a product prototype is the best.However, for R&D-oriented startups such as fusion and quantum computing, it is acceptable if a team has been formed.)
  • Startups that are implementing or planning global expansion, or plan to expand overseas in the medium to long term.
  • The founder, business manager, or other members capable of making decisions must be able to participate.
  • Able to participate in-person for the program held in Kobe (planning for 4 days total: 2 days for the Kick-off Session, and 2 days for the day before and the actual Demo Day).
  • Applications are accepted from across the nation.
    However, startups without a base(***) in Hyogo must establish a base in Hyogo during the program period (from July 18,2024 to January 31, 2025)
  (***) A base refers to a head office, branch, sales office, or co-working facility, etc. within Hyogo. Corporate registration in Hyogo is not required. For startups without a base in Hyogo at the time of application, please let us know individually. Furthermore, for startups selected for this program that newly contract as co-working members of “KiP”(a co-working facility operated by Hyogo), usage fees will be halved during the program period.

3 Program Outline

This program consists of “Business development support” and “Financial support for Global market expansion”
The outline is as follows.

4 Language

As this is a support program aimed at global expansion, the primary language for activities and interactions will be English, and output such as pitch decks is recommended to be in English. We will provide follow-up support in Japanese as needed.

However, the Overseas PoC/Research Project Plan must be submitted in Japanese.

5 Number of companies to be selected

About 10 startups

6 Program Fee

Free of Charge.
However, travel and accommodation costs required for participating in programs that demand on-site participation, such as the Kick-off Session and Demo Day, will be borne by the participants themselves.

7 Venue

8 Program Schedule

9 How to apply & Application Period

Applications opened on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The deadline to apply is 18:00 (JST), Friday, June 7, 2024.
If you want to apply, please submit your application online as soon as possible from the following website.
* Regarding required information to apply, please refer to the Appendix-1.

10 Screening Method and Selection Criteria

Applicants will be screened through document screening and interviews on a rolling basis. The results of the evaluation will be communicated via email.

• First round: Document Screening
  English or Japanese
• Second round: Online Interview
  Pitching and Q&A session. Pitching must be delivered in English

【Adoption Criteria】

• Have engaged in concrete business development / R&D development aimed at commercialization (not at a purely conceptual idea level).
• There is excellent compatibility between the founders/team and the business.
• Have clear challenges, customers, business goals and vision to address, and have an operational policy that aligns with solving the common social issues based on the application theme (SDGs).
• Whose business activities are expected to impact the regional economy of Hyogo/Kobe positively and can serve as a catalyst for change in the market as a whole.
• The founder or business manager can participate in the program with a sense of initiative, engaging in interactions and mutual learning with participating entrepreneurs and mentors.
• Can participate in the programs that require on-site attendance.
• Have the intention to actively participate and contribute to the Hyogo/Kobe startup community, including SDGsCHALLENGE.

11 Notification of Acceptance

The results of the selection will be notified via email.
Please note that in the case of non-selection, we will not disclose the reasons for the decision.
All selected teams will be announced on our web site: https://sdgs-challenge.jp/

12 Requests for cooperation in surveys and follow-up

We will ask all applicants to cooperate in surveys and hearings to improve our SDGs CHALLENGE program.

13 Other Notes

• We will implement this program at KiP. When you join the program and use our facilities, please comply with the facilities’ terms and conditions of use. The proposer has intellectual property rights to the business plan and other information.
• However, the proposer is responsible for taking measures to legally protect information such as patents, utility models, trade secrets, and know-how and is requested to submit proposals to the extent that it is acceptable to make them public.
• The contents of the submitted documents, including personal information, will be shared with Hyogo, Kobe, and the contracted operators, Community Link the NPO and 2080 Ventures. The information will also be shared and used to the extent necessary for this program’s cooperating and sponsoring organizations.
• The submitted personal information will not be used for any other purpose or provided to any third party, except for related parties unless otherwise stipulated by law or agreed to by the applicant.
• Suppose we find any misrepresentation or failure to meet the requirements after the qualified or launched program. In that case, the applicant will be disqualified or asked to withdraw from the program during the program.

14 Contact

If you have any questions, please contact to the contracted operators, Community Link the NPO via email : sdgs-challenge@communitylink.jp

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This program is operated by CommunityLink commissioned by Hyogo Prefecture and Kobe City.

Such programs and services are provided for educational and informational purposes only and under no circumstances should any content provided as part of any such program, services or events be construed as investment, legal, tax or accounting advice by us or any of its affiliates.

This post is intended solely to provide information regarding the stated program. All content provided in this post is provided for general informational or educational purposes only.

We make no representations as to the accuracy or information contained in this post and while we have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the information contained in this post is accurate and up-to-date, no liability can be accepted for any error or omissions.